Smart dumping of network switch forwarding database

摘要

Techniques are provided for retrieving entries from a routing table or a forwarding database in a distributed network switch. The forwarding database includes match and mask registers used to compare routing entries and return matching routing entries to a requesting management controller. The forwarding database uses a separate timeout value associated with the forwarding database to avoid timeout errors for general register operations, and allows for an asynchronous dump operation of routing entries.

主权项

1. A computer program product for retrieving routing entries from a switch module, the computer program product comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied therewith, the computer-readable program code comprising:
computer-readable program code, executable by a processor, configured to receive, from a management controller, a request for at least one routing entry in a forwarding database (FDB) matching a specified criteria, wherein the request is associated with a first timeout value;computer-readable program code configured to initiate a timer associated with the FDB having a value less than the first timeout value;computer-readable program code configured to, responsive to determining a first routing entry in the FDB matches the specified criteria before expiration of the timer associated with the FDB, write the first routing entry to an output register;computer-readable program code configured to, responsive to expiration of the timer associated with the FDB, write an indication that an FDB timeout has occurred to the output register;computer-readable program code configured to assert a write operation to the output register is completed; andcomputer-readable program code configured to generate a response frame, to the management controller, containing the value of the output register.